Pension Facts
Has Dark Money Ruined Fair Elections?

By Chris Heiserman, Director

It’s impossible to miss the current barrage of television ads from billionaire Presidential candidates Tom Steyer and Michael “Mike” Bloomberg. But at least we know they are paying for the campaign commercials and we can decide for ourselves how we feel about individuals spending so much personal wealth seeking political office.

Yet what about campaign ads from political non-profit groups or Super Political Action Committees (super PACs) with names like “Stand for Truth”, or “New Day in America”, or “Americans for Prosperity,” or the “League of Conservation Voters?” (For the record, the first three favored conservative candidates and issues, the fourth liberal ones in past elections). Where is the money coming from to pay for their political ads to influence our votes? Increasingly, the sources fueling huge political campaign spending in our federal elections are “dark money” where the origin is either not disclosed at all, or it isn’t available until long after the ballots have been counted.

Political non-profits, a label that seems a bit wacky, have become a considerable force in U.S. elections. These groups can receive unlimited business, individual or union contributions that they do not have to disclose, and even though their political activity is supposed to be somewhat limited, there has been little or no enforcement by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

So, what is this secret dark money all about? It’s basically political dollars where the source isn’t known. It could be other billionaires or millionaires or corporate interests that prefer to hide their support for or opposition to candidates or ballot issues. The bottom line is voters far too often have no clue who is paying for the messages attempting to sway their votes. The most common avenue for dark money is politically active non-profit organizations – created under IRS sections 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6). The first type is often referred to as “social welfare” groups. They are allowed to engage in political activities but that is not supposed to be their “primary” purpose. Unfortunately, many of them have easily circumvented this limitation and found ways to expend nearly all of their budgets in political ways. Examples of this organization category would be the National Rifle Association (NRA), the Sierra Club and Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (GPS), a non-profit founded in 2010 that worked with super PAC American Crossroads connected to well-known Republican campaign guru Karl Rove. (Note: no specific detail here about these groups and dark money activities).

Trade associations, chambers of commerce and real estate boards can be 501(c)(6) organizations and generally are also supposed to limit political activity to less than half of their spending. These groups benefit from their special non-profit status and can also accept unlimited contributions while donors remain hidden.

You may be tempted like many to ask: “But aren’t super PACs (independent expenditure committees) required to identify their donors to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and prohibited from coordinating political efforts with candidate campaigns?” Technically, yes, but what sounds like transparency collapses when unlimited contributions come from corporations or non-profits that don’t disclose their donors (dark money groups). And while super PACs are prohibited from coordinating political spending with a candidate’s campaign, many are led by individuals personally close to a candidate or sometimes former campaign workers.

How Did We Get Here?

So how big an issue is this and how did we get from what historically resembled a campaign finance system with limits and reasonable public disclosure rules to a dark money arms race where both conservatives and liberals fear being left behind and disadvantaged in election campaigns. According to an analysis from the Center for Responsive Politics published in February 2019, reported dark money spending has been growing dramatically. They said that since the 2006 election cycle, spending by groups that don’t fully disclose donors has exceeded $2 billion.

The analysis said the 2018 election set a record for reported dark money spending for non-presidential years, attracting more than $539 million in expenditures by groups that don’t fully disclose their donors. In 2006 they said groups not disclosing donors made up less than two percent of outside spending excluding party committees. Since then such spending has grown to more than half of all outside spending; and they believe that dark-money spending reported to the FEC is only the “tip of the iceberg” of what is really happening.

Reported expenditures don’t include millions spent on campaign ads that focus on controversial issues using carefully crafted language that subtlety praises or attacks a candidate without actually suggesting a vote for or against him/her. Throw in digital advertising, an increasingly common way for dark money groups to skirt disclosure requirements, and the electioneering pool water gets even murkier.

Who opened the flood gates for all this political spending with no accountability? Most would say it was the U.S. Supreme Court in its 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission by a 5-4 vote that equated political campaigning with free speech under the 1st Amendment and said it would be unconstitutional to limit political spending by corporations and unions. A subsequent lower court case, SpeechNow.org v. Federal Elections Commission dropped the other shoe and found that contribution limitations on groups who make independent expenditures are also unconstitutional, spurring the proliferation of dark money organizations.

Interestingly, in part of the Citizens United decision, eight of the nine Supreme Court justices agreed that disclosure of political spending was important because “transparency enables the electorate to make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages.” Wait. It sounds like the Supreme Court didn’t want to restrict “free speech” but felt we should all know who was paying for it.

So, courts have allowed unlimited spending by and unlimited contributions to groups that make independent expenditures in elections. But guess what? Most Americans don’t like it. A 2015 New York Times/CBS News poll found strong support among both Democrats and Republicans for limiting the influence of wealthy donors, including limiting spending and requiring more disclosure by these dark money groups. The poll found that more than 80% of Americans believe money plays too great a role in election campaigns.

If the missing ingredient is identifying the source of this dark money in politics, who can make that happen? Perhaps Congress should weigh in on this good government topic. Unfortunately, more than half of the respondents in the same survey were pessimistic that elected leaders would act to improve campaign finance rules.

Other ideas? Ask your congressional representative what he/she is prepared to do about it? Or maybe some enlightened state Legislature could pass reasonable campaign finance disclosure legislation that will be challenged legally and eventually give the U.S. Supreme Court a chance to revisit the issue and get it right for transparent and fair elections.

More detailed information about dark money and these court rulings can be found by visiting these organizations’ websites:
Center for Responsive Politics at: www.opensecrets.org
The Center for Public Integrity at: https://publicintegrity.org/ . ◾

Recent Events

December NETWORK Correction: The December 2019 mailed version of The NETWORK contained an incorrect version of the 2020 RESDC Budget. The corrected version of the 2020 Budget was submitted and adopted by members in attendance at the December 12th Annual Membership Meeting and Holiday Luncheon. Members who wish to obtain a copy may contact the RESDC office at (866) 688-9229.

New Study: Working-age Americans dying at higher rates, especially in economically hard-hit states. Mortality rates among working-age Americans continue to climb, causing a decrease in U.S. life expectancy that is severely impacting certain regions of the United States, according to a recent Virginia Commonwealth University report. The report, “Life Expectancy and Mortality Rates in the United States, 1959-2017,” is one of the most comprehensive 50-state analyses of U.S. mortality. To access the study visit: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/. ◾

Save the Dates!

NORTH COUNTY
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Wednesday, February 26, 2020 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
North Inland Live Well Center
649 West Mission Ave., Escondido, CA 92025

Our program will include presentations from two excellent community resources: Sharp Healthcare Disaster Preparedness and FACT SD – Full Access and Coordinated Transportation, Inc.

Sharon Carlson is a registered nurse and the system director of emergency disaster preparedness for Sharp HealthCare. Sharon brings a wealth of disaster planning, response and recovery knowledge to Sharp HealthCare, and works closely with its safety and security teams. She is the hospital representative for San Diego County on several state emergency disaster preparedness work groups in California.

FACT is based in Oceanside and is a resource for San Diego County residents who are looking for transportation options. FACT seeks to improve access to transportation for seniors, persons with disabilities, veterans, and the income disadvantaged, and to fill gaps in existing services.

RESDC THEATRE OUTING

The West Coast premiere of LITTLE WOMEN at The Old Globe, By Kate Hamill
Sunday, March 22nd at 2:00 PM

Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel of the March sisters is beloved by generations of readers. Now her heartfelt story of Jo March and her three unforgettably distinct sisters, Meg, Beth, and Amy, comes to the stage in a brand-new version that honors the spirit of Alcott’s original while freshly interpreting it for a new era. The Wall Street Journal named the prolific and widely produced Kate Hamill Playwright of the Year. Her sparkling adaptation will have audiences falling in love with the March sisters all over again as they grow from young girls to little women.

Tickets will be available for registration at: www.resdc.net/events in February. Look for the February and March issues of The NETWORK for more information.

RESDC ROUNDUP

February 19, 3:30 – 5 pm
Hooleys Irish Pub – Grossmont Center, La Mesa

Our first RESDC Roundup of 2020 will be a return to the East County in February, visiting Hooley’s in Grossmont Center where pints, plates of Irish fare and daily drink specials are offered up in a roomy, woodsy space.

The Roundup provides an opportunity to catch up over libations and appetizers with RESDC leadership and fellow members. No reservation required (no host bar, no host food). Come meet with old friends and make some new ones! ◾

Sponsors of the 2019 RESDC Holiday Luncheon

A big thank you to the people and businesses who donated prizes to RESDC for our Holiday Luncheon.

Cygnet Theatre
Event Outfitters
Filippi’s Pizza Grotto Santee
La Jolla Playhouse
Lamb’s Players Theatre
Moxie Theatre
My Senior Health Plan, Pete Blasi
Pacific Group Agencies, Steve Pettee, Agent
San Diego County Credit Union
San Diego Padres
San Diego Repertory Theatre
Anne Schwartz, RESDC member
Scripps Ranch Theatre
Superior Direct, Kim Ehler (RESDC’s printing
service)

To each and every one of these donors, we extend our heart-felt thanks and gratitude.
Thank you also to RESDC member Dottie Badger for shopping for many prizes for the opportunity drawing. Our gratitude also goes to member Eric Wong, for organizing and wrapping the prizes. ◾

Pension Facts At A Glance

SDCERA processed 102 service retirements in October and November 2019. ◾

2020 Scholarships

By Carlos Gonzalez, Scholarship Committee

The annual RESDC Merit Scholarship Program will award five $2,000 scholarships and one $750 community service scholarship, to graduating high school seniors in 2020. To be eligible, students must be a child, grandchild, step child, or step grandchild, of a RESDC member in good standing (as defined in our Bylaws).

The scholarship application forms are available online at:
www.resdc.net/scholarship-program. Applications may also be picked up from our office at 8825 Aero Dr., Suite 205, San Diego, CA 92123. For questions, please call RESDC toll free at (866) 688-9229 or email resdc@resdc.net.

The deadline to submit applications is Monday, March 2, 2020; applications postmarked after this date will not be considered. Final results will be communicated directly to individual participants at the beginning June 2020.

We suggest that applicants start this process early and coordinate all references for a complete and timely submittal. Incomplete application packages will not be considered.

All RESDC Scholarship applicants are also eligible to apply for the Theo and Evelyn Yakel Scholarship, which is available through The San Diego Foundation. In 2019, The San Diego Foundation awarded $2.2 million in scholarships, making The Foundation the largest private non-university scholarship provider in San Diego County. To apply for The Yakel Scholarship, students should go to www.sdfoundation.org and fill out the Common Scholarship Application.

A document verifying that the student’s sponsor is a RESDC member must be uploaded when applying for the Yakel Scholarship through the Common Scholarship Application. Please call the RESDC office at: (866) 688-9229 to obtain this signed document. The foundation will not accept an application without RESDC’s validation.

The filing period for the Yakel Scholarship closes on February 5, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.; results are usually out by June 1. ◾

Scholarship Recipients – Where Are They Now?

Estelle Charbonneau Hawkins wrote to us to give us an update on her two grandchildren who are former RESDC Scholarship recipients.

Estelle’s granddaughter, Jillian Johnson, received the RESDC Scholarship in 2011. She attended San Diego State University and graduated with honors in 2016. After graduation, she went to work at the University of California Davis Hospital as a staff nurse. Eighteen months later, she accepted a scholarship to earn her Masters Degree as a Nurse Practitioner. She will graduate in May this year. She hopes to return to San Diego in the future to practice.

Estelle’s grandson, Joseph Johnson, was a RESDC Scholarship recipient in 2014. He also received a scholarship from The Theo and Evelyn Yakel Scholarship program through The San Diego Foundation. He attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and was ranked number one in his major, Bio-Chemistry. He graduated in 2018. He worked as a researcher and shadowed an orthopedic specialist at New York University Hospital. Last Fall, he received his “white coat” and entered Stanford University Hospital Medical School.

We wish Jillian and Joseph great success and best wishes in their chosen fields.

Editor’s note: We enjoy hearing about our past Scholarship recipients. Please contact Karen Hazel at the RESDC office if you would like to update us on more former scholarship recipients. Phone the office at (619) 688-9229, or email Karen at resdc@resdc.net. ◾

Introduce Your Fellow Retirees to RESDC

Contact a fellow retiree or an active employee to tell them about the perks of membership and to encourage them to join the RESDC family. Give this RESDC membership enrollment form to your County retiree friends. Click here to find out how to become a member. ◾

Board Member Profile – Chris Hesierman

A member of the RESDC Board of Directors since December 2012, Chris retired from the County Finance of General Government Group Executive Office in 2010. He had a total of 18 years of County service, having also worked in the Land Use and Environment Group and in the offices of three County Supervisors. He spent eight years as District Office Manager and Chief of Staff to a State Assembly member, and served on the Board of Directors of the Spring Valley and San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection Districts for 18 years.

Chris has a Masters of Public Administration from San Diego State University. His volunteer experience other than RESDC includes more than 30 years with the Kiwanis Club of Spring Valley, and several years as President of the non-profit Dictionary Hills Open Space Advocates (DHOSA). In December, 2017 DHOSA celebrated acquisition of Dictionary Hill by the County, creating the Dictionary Hill Open Space Preserve, which conserves 175 acres of Coastal Sage Scrub Habitat for everyone to enjoy. He enjoys hiking, reading, golf, and travel in his retirement.

He has been married 50 years and he and his wife, Sonya, have cruised to Alaska and Mexico, enjoyed a three-week Best of Europe tour in 2011, and traveled with friends in small group tours to Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Morocco, and Scandinavia. They also love scenic travel in the United States northwest and southwest. They have two sons and three grandchildren. ◾

Discounts on Attractions

Through an ongoing partnership with Recreation Connection, RESDC members have access to discounts to a variety of amusement parks, movie theatres, and other attractions nationwide. The monthly update from Recreation Connection is posted on our website: www.resdc.net/discounts.

To order tickets online, visit: recreationconnection.com and click on “Members Enter Here” in the left menu. You will need to enter your personal email address and the “Company Code” which is “Retired”. If you prefer to order by mail or fax, the order form can be found in the FAQ section of the Recreation Connection website; there are no phone sales and their walk-up locations are only in Hollywood and Glendale, CA. ◾

Mailing Dates for 2020 Electronic Pension Deposits

Month  /  Deposit Date

January 31
February 28
March 31
April 30
May 29
June 30
July 31
August 31
September 30
October 30
November 30
December 31

Retain this calendar for quick reference for the dates you will receive your electronic deposits. ◾

Welcome New Members

Amor L. Aquino
Desiree A. Bruce-Lyle
Emma G. Buenrostro-Zarate – Health & Human Service George P. Chapman*
Bruce W. Coon* – Health & Human Services
Martha Crump – Health & Human Services
Lezlie A. Hamrick-Smith – Assessor/Recorder
Tina R. Ibarra – Health & Human Services
Jon T. Rollin – Public Works
Carlos V. Soriano – Sheriff
Josefina L. Soriano – Sheriff
Karyn D. Swarner* – Public Administration
Peter D. Swenson

*Associate Member

The surviving spouse of a member is eligible for RESDC membership. For enrollment assistance, call (619) 688-9229. ◾

2019 Year In Review

Click here to see our 2019 Year In Review.

Click here to see the full photo galleries for our 2019 events. ◾